Letters of John Huss Written During His Exile and Imprisonment/Letter 11, To the believers in Prague
LETTER XI.
TO THE BELIEVERS IN PRAGUE.
May God be with you; so that, in wrestling against Satan and the world, you may persevere to the end. I conjure you, well-beloved, from the prison which I inhabit, to pray to God for me, who do not blush to bear affliction for him: pray that he may assist me; for all my life lies in him, and your prayers. Beseech him, therefore, to grant his Spirit unto me, that I may confess his name, even unto death. I cling to his mercy and truth; and if at this time he deign to receive me, let his holy will be done! But if it be his will I should live and be restored to you, let his holy will again be blessed. I shall be in need of his Divine assistance, although I am assured that he will not permit me to be tried beyond my strength, and exposed to a peril that will not ensure my salvation and yours; for the end of temptation, should we hold fast in the truth, is to effect our salvation. Know, dearly-beloved, that the letters I have left you, have been translated by my adversaries, who have added to them many falsehoods. They write so many articles and lies against me, that I have enough to do to answer them from my prison. Their malice equals their fury. Jesus Christ, our merciful Lord, has said to them whom he loved, “I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” Remember, beloved, that I have never had anything more at heart from the beginning than your salvation; it is in his name that I have taught you the Word of God, and I shall never cease doing so, even from the bottom of my prison. I do not doubt but that you will make some mention of me.
[Written on the eve before St Fabin’s day.]
- ↑ This letter was read at Prague, in the Chapel of Bethlehem, and in the other churches.